Creating a ritual to honor our process can be comforting and a beautiful way to feel connected to our loved ones. It can be as unique as your loved one, reflecting their personality, and honoring the life they lived. Rituals can bring a sense of calm and peace into our lives and hearts and help promote healing and some release of our pain. Beginning to release our pain doesn’t minimize the relationship we had with our loved one or indicate that we don’t miss our loved ones. Beginning to release our pain symbolizes the first step in moving forward with love. 

Here are a few ideas that may assist with this initial, very small, but significant step forward:

• Release ceremony: butterflies, flowers or seed “bombs”.

• Create a memory book of pictures, photos and stories.

• Plant a tree, memorial garden or your loved one’s favorite flower.

• Eat at your loved one’s favorite restaurant.

• Cook your loved one’s favorite meal and share it with family and friends.

• Design a small shrine.

• Participate in a run / walk in honor of your loved one.

• Wear something that belonged to your loved one.

• Create a memory quilt or teddy bear.

• Create a memory box.

• Perform acts of service in their honor / name.

• Keep a journal of your favorite memories you shared with your loved one.

• Visit the cemetery.

• Bring flowers to the cemetery.

• Talk to an empty chair as though your loved one is sitting in it.

• Light a candle for your loved one.

• Write a letter to your loved one.

• Visit their favorite place or go to an event they loved.

• Complete random acts of kindness inspired by your loved one’s life.

• Curl up and watch your loved one’s favorite movie.

• Volunteer your time to an organization / cause that your loved one supported. Helping others can be a beautiful way to get out of our own heads and emotions for a bit.

• Have their ring made into another piece of jewelry you can wear.

• Create / listen to a playlist you both enjoyed together.